Artificial leg



C. B. WINN ARTIFICIAL LEG July 22 1924. 1,502,415

eats-Sheet Fi ed Jan. 5, 124

(3. B. WINN ARTIFICIAL LEG 2 sheets-Sheet l d Jan. 5 1924 Patented July 22, 1924.

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Q1 BUFFALO, NE /V YURI narrrrcren LEG.

Application filed January 5, 1924. Serial No. 684,530.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER B. VVINN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Artificial Legs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an artificial leg for any amputation above theknee.

Its chief object is the provision of a limb of this kind which will enable the wearer to walk naturally and safely.

A further object is to provide efficient controlling devices for the lower leg section composed of few parts which are light, strong and simple in construction and which can be readily assembled and taken apart.

Another, purpose of'the invention is the provision of an improved knee joint and operating means for the same connected with the usual shoulder suspenders, whereby the desired power and movement of the artificial leg are obtained without unpleasant slippage of the suspenders, or excessive backward and forward movement thereof on the shoulders of the wearer.

Still another object is to provide the leg with a positive and practically noiseless knee stop for limiting the forward movement of its lower section.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an artificial leg embodying the invention. Figure 2 is a front view thereof. Figure 3 is a rear view of the same. Figure 4 is a sectional view of the, knee joint and its operati ng means on an enlarged scale. Figure 5 is a similar View of a modified construction of the improvement. Figure 6 is a similar view of another modification. Figure 7 is a front view of the last named construction, a part of the lower leg section being broken away.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the embodiment of the in vention shown in Figs. 1 1, inclusive, 10 indicates the thigh or upper section of the artificial'leg, 11 the shin or lower section and 12 a knee bolt or journal, of any suitable construction which pivotally connects the two sections. As usual, the bottom of the thigh section and the adjacent rear portious of the two sections are slotted or cut away to permit the necessary backward or flexing movement of the lower section on the upper one.

-Arranged in the upper portionof the rower leg section are suitable guides, in the form of transverse pins 13 and 1%., the pin 13 being located near the rear wall of said section and the pin 14 at or near its front wall, as shown in Fig. 4. An opening 15 is formed in said front wall opposite the pin 14. Located in the lower portion of the thigh section 10 on the rear side of the knee journal 12 and preferably above the level of the latter is a similar guide or transverse pin 16.

17 indicates the customary shoulder ponders having the usual pair of supportingloops 18 for sustaining and holding the thigh section on the stump of the wearer. These loops pass around pulleys 19 at opposite sides of the thigh section and are guided in the usual straps 20. Attached centrally. to the suspenders is a controlling member, strap or loop 2l which extends downwardly along the front of the leg through the opening 15 and under the front guide pin 14: thence rearwardly and upwardly around the rear guide pin 13; thence upwardly and forwardly around the front side of the knee journal: thence upwardly and rearwardlv under the upper guide pin 16. and through the slotted rear wall of the thigh section and upwardl along the back of the latter to the suspenders. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in 14, inclusive. the ends of the controlling loop 21 are buckled or otherwise attached to the front and rear members of' the suspender, respectively, but if desired.

the rear member of the controlling loop may be secured to the thigh section. as shown at 22 in Fig. 5, instead of connecting it to the suspenders.

The front member of the controlling loop may be suitably guided on the thigh section, for example by means of a cross bar 23 bridging a recess 24 in the lower front portion of said section.

To reduce friction between the controlling loop and said knee journal and the several guide pins, rollers may be mounted on the journal and the pins, if desired.

25 indicates a knee stop or buffer for an resting the forward movement of the lower leg section on reaching its straightened,

, walking, so that the per end of the lower leg section,

It will be understood that by this ar- :rangement of the controlling loop and ti 2 guide pins and knee journal, freely-slidable operating connection for the lower leg section is obtained which produces a tension on the loop and the suspenders when said leg section is flexed, as in the act of wearer by straightening his body or shrugging his shoulders, can lift that section clear of the ground or surface and propel it forward to the limit of its rotating movement.

As the controlling strap or loop is free to slide on'the knee journal. and the guide pins 13, 14c and 16, it equalizes the downward pull on the suspenders, preventing anysliding or chafing movement of the latter on the wearers body.

The position of the guide pins relative to the knee journal affords a leverage of suflicient power to allow the wearer to im pose his entire weight on the artificial leg while the knee is, bent or flexed without danger of the artifical leg doubling up, enabling him to take the step with his sound leg while the artificial leg is thus flexed. In fact, the entire weight of the wearer can be safely supported on the artificial leg with the knee joint bent to a considerable angle; the greater this backward fieXion the greater the tension exerted on the controlling strap and the suspender.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is illustrated another modified form of the invention in which the front. guide or pin 14 and the strap opening 15 of the previously-described embodiments are omitted. In this case, the front portion ofthe controlling member or loop is divided into two branches 21*, 21*, which extend downwardly into the open upon the kneestop or buffer 25", the loop thence passing di rectly around the rear guide pin 13.

I claim as my invention.

1. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh section, a lower leg section, a knee journal pivotally connecting said sections, said leg section having a guide adjacent to its rear side, a suspender, and a controlling member connected to the suspender and looped around said guide and said knee-journal to slide freely thereon. i

2. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh section, a lower leg section, a knee journal pivotally connecting said sections, said leg section having a guide adjacent to. its rear side, a suspender, and a controlling member connected. to the Suspender and looped around the rear side of said guide and the front side of said knee journal.

3. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh section, a. lower leg section, aknee journal pivotally connecting said sections, said leg section having guides adjacent to its front and rear sides, a suspender, and a loop connected to said suspe-nder and passing around said front and rear guides and over said knee journal and freely slidable thereon.

4:. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh section, a lower leg section, a knee journal pivotally connecting said sect-ions, said leg section having a guide adjacent to its rear side, a suspender, and a controlling member secured at one end to the suspender and at its'opposite end to the lower leg section, said member being looped around said guide and said knee journal to slide freely thereon.

' 5. An artificial leg, comprising a thigh section and a lower leg section, a knee-journal pivotally connecting said sections, said lower leg section having a guide adjacent to its rear wall and a knee stop adjacent to its front wall arranged to abut against the thigh section in the straightened position of said lower section, a suspender, and a controlling member connected to said suspenderand looped around said knee journal and said guide to slide freely thereon.

onnsrnn B. WINN. 

